Scott Effross Bio
Scott Benjamin-Morton Effross (born December 28, 1993) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees, and most recently signed a minor league deal with the Detroit Tigers. Effross played college baseball at Indiana University, where he developed into a reliable relief pitcher before being drafted by the Cubs in 2015. He made his major league debut in 2021 and built a reputation as a high-leverage reliever with a distinctive sidearm delivery.
Early Life and Background
Scott Benjamin-Morton Effross was born on December 28, 1993, in Twinsburg, Ohio. He grew up in the Twinsburg community and is Jewish, having been a member of Congregation Shir Shalom during his youth. Effross has spoken about wearing a Star of David necklace while pitching, a small but consistent detail of his pre-game routine. His upbringing in northeast Ohio placed him within a strong high school baseball scene, where he would later earn multiple regional and statewide honors.
Effross attended Twinsburg High School, graduating in 2012, and starred on the baseball team as both a pitcher and a first baseman. In his senior year, he posted an 8–1 win–loss record with a 1.52 earned run average (ERA), struck out 60 batters in 55 innings, and batted .380. He was named First Team All-Northeast Ohio Conference in 2011 and 2012, earned spots on the Plain Dealer High School Baseball All-Star team and the Northeast Ohio Baseball Coaches Association All-Star Team, and was recognized on the All-Ohio Academic Team in 2012.
Path to Baseball
Effross enrolled at Indiana University, where he played college baseball for the Indiana Hoosiers while majoring in political science. As a freshman in 2013, he went 6–1 with a 2.44 ERA in 28 appearances, earning Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American and Second Team All-Big Ten Conference honors. He followed that with a strong sophomore season in 2014, when he set a school record with 32 appearances, posted a 1.98 ERA, and was named a Cape Cod Baseball League All-Star during his summer with the Wareham Gatemen.
As a junior in 2015, Effross went 4–4 with a 2.35 ERA, finished among the Big Ten leaders in WHIP and walks per nine innings, and was named to the Jewish Sports Review Division I College Baseball All-America team. He closed his college career ranked fourth all-time at Indiana with 81 pitching appearances, tied for fifth with 12 saves, and seventh with a 2.27 ERA, cementing his profile as a durable and effective relief pitcher.
Scott Effross Career
Early Career (2015–2019)
The Chicago Cubs selected Effross in the 15th round, 443rd overall, of the 2015 MLB Draft, and he signed for a $100,000 bonus. He began his professional career that summer in the rookie-level Arizona League and Low-A Northwest League, then advanced to Single-A South Bend and High-A Myrtle Beach in 2016, where he went a combined 7–0 with a 3.23 ERA. In 2017, Effross returned to Myrtle Beach and was 5–2 with nine saves and a 3.40 ERA, and he added a Double-A stint with the Tennessee Smokies in 2018.
His development took a notable turn in mid-2019, when the Cubs asked him to switch from a low three-quarters arm slot to a full sidearm motion. Effross credits rehab pitching coordinator Josh Zeid with helping him through the adjustment. He finished that year across the Arizona League, Myrtle Beach, and Tennessee, then made eight scoreless relief appearances for the Mesa Solar Sox in the Arizona Fall League, foreshadowing the role he would soon embrace in the major leagues.
Chicago Cubs Era (2021–2022)
Effross was called up to the majors for the first time on August 28, 2021, and made his MLB debut on August 29 against the Chicago White Sox. In 14 relief appearances that season, he went 2–1 with a 3.68 ERA, struck out 18 batters against only one walk in 14 2/3 innings, and posted a 0.955 WHIP. His sidearm delivery and heavy sinker gave opposing hitters fits, and he quickly became a trusted late-inning option for the Cubs.
In 2022, before being traded, Effross was 1–4 with 13 holds, one save, and a 2.66 ERA across 47 games, ranking among the National League leaders in appearances. He stranded 24 of 28 inherited runners and sat in the top 5% of major league pitchers in low barrel percentage and high chase rate. On August 1, 2022, the Cubs traded him to the New York Yankees for pitcher Hayden Wesneski, ending his first major league chapter.
New York Yankees Era (2022–2025)
Effross joined a Yankees bullpen in the thick of a pennant race, and in 13 relief appearances down the stretch he went 0–0 with three saves, three holds, and a 2.14 ERA. His combined 2022 line with both clubs was 1–4 with four saves, 16 holds, a 2.54 ERA, and 62 strikeouts in 56 2/3 innings, and he ranked among the top MLB relievers in hard-hit and pulled-ball percentages allowed.
His momentum was halted on October 13, 2022, when he underwent Tommy John surgery to repair a torn UCL in his right elbow, causing him to miss the 2022 postseason and the entire 2023 season. He returned to the injured list in early 2024 following a December low back surgery, was activated in mid-July, and pitched primarily for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, going 8–1 with a 2.55 ERA in the minors. In 2025, Effross made 11 appearances for the Yankees but struggled to an 8.44 ERA, and on November 21, 2025, he was non-tendered and became a free agent. On December 17, 2025, he signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers.
Driving Style and Strengths
Effross works primarily from a low sidearm release point, which he adopted in 2019 at the Cubs’ suggestion. He leans on a sweeping slider in the low 80s and a biting sinker around 90 mph, mixing in a changeup and a heavy four-seam fastball. The unorthodox angle helps him induce weak contact, post elite chase rates, and excel in high-leverage relief situations.
Notable Events and Milestones
Signature moments include his major league debut against the Chicago White Sox in 2021, his mid-2022 trade to the Yankees, and his standout 2022 season in which he allowed the lowest hard-hit percentage among qualified MLB relievers. His Tommy John surgery in October 2022 marked a difficult turning point, but his return to the mound in 2024 and continued persistence through injuries underscore his resilience.
Scott Effross Career Wins
Effross has built his major league identity as a high-leverage reliever rather than a traditional wins leader, but he has collected key victories and saves across his Cubs and Yankees tenures. Through the 2025 season, he has posted a career 3–5 win–loss record with a 3.59 ERA and 88 strikeouts in the majors.
MLB Highlights
Effross earned his first major league win with the Cubs in 2021 and added another victory in 2022 before being dealt. With the Yankees, he picked up saves in tight late-season games during the 2022 playoff push, showcasing the poise that made him a sought-after trade target. Across 2022 combined, he recorded four saves and 16 holds, ranking among the National League leaders in appearances at the time of his trade.
Other Wins and Performances
In the minor leagues, Effross was a combined 7–0 with two saves and a 3.23 ERA across South Bend and Myrtle Beach in 2016, and he later starred for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2024 with an 8–1 record and a 2.55 ERA. Those stretches reinforced his value as a strike-throwing reliever capable of stepping into high-pressure innings.
Scott Effross Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public details about Scott Effross’s immediate family are limited, with no widely verified information available about his parents or siblings.
Personal Life
Effross is Jewish and has spoken about his faith, including his habit of wearing a Star of David necklace while pitching. He has generally kept his personal life out of the public eye, and no public information about a spouse or children is widely available.
2025 Season Performance
Effross returned to the Yankees’ major league bullpen in 2025 after his long recovery from Tommy John and back surgeries, making 11 appearances and posting an 8.44 ERA with six strikeouts across 10 2/3 innings. The results were a clear step back from his dominant 2022 form, and on November 21, 2025, the Yankees non-tendered him, making him a free agent. Shortly after, on December 17, 2025, he signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers, opening a new chapter in his career.
